Egypt Adventure





Trace the pharaohs’ footsteps and drift down the Nile
Journey through Egypt on this eight-day trip and follow the winding path of the river Nile, soaking up Egypt's history, beauty and colour. Cruise the longest river in the world on a traditional felucca, discover the largest and most impressive Egyptian temples and share stories with interesting locals over home-cooked meals. Live it up in this country of deserts, bazaars, monuments and unmatched experiences – and come away with a deeper understanding of how Egypt’s past has shaped its future.
4.9
1037 reviewsStart: Cairo, Egypt
End: Cairo, Egypt
- Duration
- 8 days
- Group size
- 1 to 14
- Minimum age
- 15 years old
- Style
Basix: Simple accommodation, local transport and lots of free time
Original: Tourist-class hotels, some meals included and a great mix of included activities and free time
Comfort: Comfortable accommodation, with a relaxed pace of travel and many included meals and activities
Premium: Our best accommodation, exclusive inclusions and our most experienced leaders
- Original
- Theme
Our themes categorise trips based on a common interest or activity, while showcasing the highlights of a destination.
- Explorer
- Physical rating
Indicates how physically exerting a trip is, and how fit you will need to be to enjoy it. More info on physical ratings
Why you'll love this trip
- Get a hands-on history lesson at some of the world's most iconic ancient sites – the Pyramids of Giza (one of the Seven Wonders of the World) and the Sphinx – with an expert local guide.
- Embrace countless opportunities to connect with locals and experience their culture. Lose yourself in Cairo's colourful Khan al-Khalili bazaar and share a meal with local communities along the way.
- Sail down the Nile on a traditional felucca and experience the excellent Nubian hospitality.
- Walk in the footsteps of ancient royalty as you explore the Valley of the Kings and admire the Karnak Temple – the cult temple dedicated to the gods Amun, Mut and Khonsu.
- Create your own Egyptian adventure during your free time on this trip – maybe explore Abu Simbel or relax at a local teahouse. The choice is yours!
View the itinerary for departures between 01 January 2026 - 31 December 2026
Itinerary
Ahlan! Welcome to Egypt. Your adventure begins in Cairo with a welcome meeting at 4 pm, where you’ll meet your leader and fellow travellers. If you arrive early, get your bearings by walking around the neighourhood, or escape the hustle and bustle and explore the Christian quarter, known as Coptic Cairo. After the meeting, head out with your fellow travellers and discover Khan al-Khalili Bazaar, located in Cairo's Islamic centre. This traditional souk is a labyrinth of narrow alleys lined with local merchants, making it the perfect place to experience daily Egyptian life.
- Hotel (1 night)
There are no meals included on this day.
- Cairo - Khan al-Khalili bazaar visit
- Cairo - The Citadel (entrance fee) - EGP550
- Cairo - Coptic Museum (entrance fee) - EGP280
- Cairo - Islamic Art Museum (entrance fee) - EGP340
- Cairo - Sufi Dance Khan al-Khalili (entrance fee) - EGP180
- Cairo - Saqqara and Memphis Urban Adventure - USD49
It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting as we will be collecting insurance and emergency contact details at this time. If you are going to be late, please let your travel agent or hotel reception know. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place.
If you’re interested in one of the Urban Adventures tours, check out https://www.urbanadventures.com/cairo
This morning, head to Giza – home to some of the world’s most iconic sights and one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Explore the structures that have stood tall for 4500 years and uncover the mysteries surrounding them with your leader. Head to a spot where you'll have a panoramic view of the three pyramids, before checking out the Great Sphinx of Giza. For lunch, follow your leader to a local restaurant to try a Koshary plate (a tasty and filling Egyptian take on pasta). After, make your way to the Egyptian Museum, which houses one of the world's greatest collections of antiquities. Wander through the treasure-filled halls while your leader highlights the true gems of the exhibits. Later, meet your leader and travel to the nearby train station, where you’ll board an overnight sleeper train bound for Aswan.
- Overnight sleeper train (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Cairo - Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx
- Cairo - The Egyptian Museum (minimum 2 people)
- Cairo - The Egyptian Museum headset
- Cairo - The Great Pyramid of Cheops (entrance fee) - EGP1000
- Cairo - The 3rd Pyramid of Menkawre (entrance fee) - EGP280
- Cairo - The National Museum of Egyptian Civilization & The Royal Mummy Room (entrance fee) - EGP550
Your travel time on the overnight train will be approximately 13 hours.
The sleeper train includes a simple dinner and breakfast. Before boarding, you may wish to stock up on your favourite snacks.
The inside thoroughfares of the Pyramids of Giza are very small and very warm, so for those suffering from claustrophobia it is not recommended. Please note that you'll be required to walk around the Pyramids complex. It can be very hot in the summer months, so be prepared for little shade and pack appropriate clothing, sun protection and carry lots of water.
You might be able to go inside the Great Pyramid of Khufu for an additional charge, though it may occasionally be closed to visitors.
Travel to Aswan – Egypt's southernmost city, where the river Nile flows, white-sailed feluccas glide by and Elephantine Island awaits. Today is a free day, so take the opportunity to see some Aswan sites like the Unfinished Obelisk – an ancient monument that has remained unfinished for 3500 years – or the High Dam. Maybe see The Nubian Bazaar, the Nubian Museum or the beautiful Temple of Isis, dedicated to the goddess Isis on Philae Island. The waterfront promenade, or Aswan's Corniche, runs alongside one of the Nile's most appealing stretches and is the perfect place to pause for a mint tea. This evening you’ll experience modern Nubian culture first-hand by joining a local Nubian family for dinner in a nearby village.
- Hotel (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Dinner
- Aswan - Nubian Village Visit and Dinner
- Aswan - Sound & Light Show at Philae Temple - USD55
- Aswan - Philae Temple (entrance fee) - EGP550
- Aswan - High Dam and Unfinished Obelisk Tour (minimum 2 people) (entrance, guide & transport) - USD25
- Aswan - Philae Temple Tour (minimum 2 people) - USD40
- Aswan - Philae Temple Sound & Light Show Tour (minimum 2 people) (entrance, guide & transport) - USD55
Today is another free day in Aswan. Perhaps head out of the city and visit Abu Simbel this morning. With the four colossal statues of Ramses guarding the Great Temple, carved directly from the mountain on the west bank of the Nile, this is one of Egypt's most memorable sights. Alternatively, you could take a sailboat around the islands in a traditional felucca, stopping off at the botanical gardens on Kitchener's Island. Your leader will be on hand to help you arrange any excursions. Otherwise, simply relax and take in the beauty of the Nile or do some shopping in the local bazaar.
- Hotel (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Aswan - Abu Simbel Tour (minimum 4 people) - USD110
- Aswan - Abu Simbel by Air - subject to availability - from (Per Person) - USD450
Your group leader will offer to organise the optional excursion to Abu Simbel by minivan for your group. This excursion will be limited to your group members only. If you would like to fly to Abu Simbel or join an alternative excursion, please discuss options with your leader there are many join-in tours. Be aware group sizes may vary.
Please note that the optional excursion to Abu Simbel has a very early start (but it’s totally worth it). The journey by land is approximately 4 hours each way.
With your free time this morning, perhaps hop on a motorboat out to the Tomb of the Nobles or stock up on snacks for your evening on the Nile. Board the felucca with your group just before lunch and spend the afternoon out on the river, watching Egyptian daily life play out on the banks, before spending a night under the stars. Your Nubian sailing crew provides all the meals, which are hearty and delicious, as well as some local entertainment. Being a traditional wooden boat with broad canvas sails, your felucca offers some shade and protection from the elements, however, there’s no cabin or enclosed section. Tonight, watch the sunset across the Nile for a sight you won't forget.
- Felucca (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Nile - Felucca overnight sailing trip
- Aswan - Tomb of the Nobles (entrance fee) - EGP200
Conditions will be basic during your felucca trip. You'll sleep on the deck of the felucca on a mattress. While blankets are provided, a sleeping sheet or sleeping bag is recommended. During the colder months (October to March) temperatures can get as low as 5°C at night.
Slight alterations may have to be made to the Nile itinerary throughout the year, depending on winds and currents. As the felucca is a sailing craft without any outboard engine, if there's no wind, you won't travel very far. The felucca does have a shared bathroom facility onboard. While feluccas have mosquito nets, we also recommend insect repellent for your day on the Nile.
Say goodbye to your Nubian friends this morning and take a private van to the ‘open-air museum’ of Luxor. From the spectacular temple complex of Karnak to the Valley of the Kings, Luxor is full of wonderfully preserved reminders of the Pharaohs. On the way, there's the option to visit either the unique mirror-image design of the Temple of Kom Ombo, or the beautifully preserved Temple of Edfu. In the afternoon, explore the magnificent Karnak Temple, which is perhaps the most impressive of all the ancient Pharaohs' monumental works. One of the world's most celebrated temple complexes, Karnak is a house of the gods built over a period of 200 years. After, visit a local NGO, Animal Care in Egypt (ACE), our Intrepid Foundation partner, to learn about the work they do to care for wounded working animals in the region. The rest of the day will be free to relax, shop in the bazaar or chill out in a local teahouse.
- Hotel (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Luxor - Karnak Temple (entrance fee)
- Luxor - Animal Care in Egypt (The Intrepid Foundation Partner) visit
- Luxor - Luxor Temple (entrance fee) - EGP500
- Luxor - Luxor Museum (entrance fee) - EGP400
- Luxor - Mummification Museum (entrance fee) - EGP220
- Luxor - Karnak Temple Sound & Light Show Tour (minimum 2 people) (entrance, guide & transport ) - USD45
Your travel time today will be approximately 3.5 hours.
You’ll disembark your Felucca between Aswan and Luxor, depending on the sailing winds. It may not be possible to visit Edfu or Kom Ombo Temples due to wind and timing, so be sure to discuss options with your leader.
Today, discover some of the wonders of ancient Thebes via a private minivan. Your first stop is the Colossi of Memnon – two 17-m-high statues on Luxor's West Bank. Carved from granite blocks, they represent the Pharaoh Amenhotep III and were once part of an impressive colonnade. Continue to the royal burial site of the Valley of the Kings – here, buried under the arid hills, are over 60 richly decorated tombs of pharaohs. Your leader will explain the history and legends of these remarkable pharaohs and the significance of the many paintings and hieroglyphics. After, join a local family for lunch and try some traditional home cooking. The rest of the afternoon is yours to explore at your pace before boarding an overnight sleeper train from Luxor back to Cairo.
- Overnight sleeper train (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Luxor - Colossi of Memnon
- Luxor - Valley of the Kings (entrance to 3 tombs)
- Luxor - Family visit & home-cooked lunch
- Luxor - Tomb of Tutankhamun (entrance fee) - EGP700
- Luxor - Hatshepsut Temple - EGP440
- Luxor - Valley of the Queens (entrance fee) - EGP220
- Luxor - Medinat Habu Temple (entrance fee) - EGP220
- Luxor - Deir el Madina -Entry Fee - EGP220
- Luxor - Tomb of Queen Nefertari in the Valley of the Queens (entrance fee) - EGP2500
- Luxor - Hot Air Balloon over the Valley of the Kings (Per Person) - USD120
Your travel time on the overnight train will be approximately 10 hours.
You have the option to take a hot air balloon ride over the Valley of the Kings and the Temples of antiquities on the West Bank. Your leader can reserve this service for you. Pick up will be from your hotel between 4 am and 5 am.
Arrive in Cairo early this morning and have one last breakfast with your group. Your trip then comes to an end. If you'd like to extend your stay, just get in touch with your booking agent ahead of time.
- Breakfast
You'll have day rooms available for use until midday today. Please don't book an onward flight before 3 pm today.
Inclusions and activities
7 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 4 dinners
Private vehicle, Felucca, Overnight sleeper train
Hotel (4 nights), Felucca (1 night), Overnight sleeper train (2 nights)
- Cairo - Khan al-Khalili bazaar visit
- Cairo - Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx
- Cairo - The Egyptian Museum (minimum 2 people)
- Cairo - The Egyptian Museum headset
- Aswan - Nubian Village Visit and Dinner
- Nile - Felucca overnight sailing trip
- Luxor - Karnak Temple (entrance fee)
- Luxor - Animal Care in Egypt (The Intrepid Foundation Partner) visit
- Luxor - Colossi of Memnon
- Luxor - Valley of the Kings (entrance to 3 tombs)
- Luxor - Family visit & home-cooked lunch
- Cairo - The Citadel (entrance fee) - EGP550
- Cairo - Coptic Museum (entrance fee) - EGP280
- Cairo - Islamic Art Museum (entrance fee) - EGP340
- Cairo - Sufi Dance Khan al-Khalili (entrance fee) - EGP180
- Cairo - Saqqara and Memphis Urban Adventure - USD49
- Cairo - The Great Pyramid of Cheops (entrance fee) - EGP1000
- Cairo - The 3rd Pyramid of Menkawre (entrance fee) - EGP280
- Cairo - The National Museum of Egyptian Civilization & The Royal Mummy Room (entrance fee) - EGP550
- Aswan - Sound & Light Show at Philae Temple - USD55
- Aswan - Philae Temple (entrance fee) - EGP550
- Aswan - High Dam and Unfinished Obelisk Tour (minimum 2 people) (entrance, guide & transport) - USD25
- Aswan - Philae Temple Tour (minimum 2 people) - USD40
- Aswan - Philae Temple Sound & Light Show Tour (minimum 2 people) (entrance, guide & transport) - USD55
- Aswan - Abu Simbel Tour (minimum 4 people) - USD110
- Aswan - Abu Simbel by Air - subject to availability - from (Per Person) - USD450
- Aswan - Tomb of the Nobles (entrance fee) - EGP200
- Luxor - Luxor Temple (entrance fee) - EGP500
- Luxor - Luxor Museum (entrance fee) - EGP400
- Luxor - Mummification Museum (entrance fee) - EGP220
- Luxor - Karnak Temple Sound & Light Show Tour (minimum 2 people) (entrance, guide & transport ) - USD45
- Luxor - Tomb of Tutankhamun (entrance fee) - EGP700
- Luxor - Hatshepsut Temple - EGP440
- Luxor - Valley of the Queens (entrance fee) - EGP220
- Luxor - Medinat Habu Temple (entrance fee) - EGP220
- Luxor - Deir el Madina -Entry Fee - EGP220
- Luxor - Tomb of Queen Nefertari in the Valley of the Queens (entrance fee) - EGP2500
- Luxor - Hot Air Balloon over the Valley of the Kings (Per Person) - USD120
This trip generates 52 kg of CO2-e per person per day
Learn more about our climate commitment.
When you travel with us, The Intrepid Foundation gives you more opportunities to support important causes in destinations you visit.
Before you book you should know
- Travelling on a felucca (traditional wooden boat) is awesome, but it's not for everyone. You will be sharing a sleeping area with your fellow group members for the night and a shared bathroom facility. You'll sleep outside under the stars on a simple mattress, with some bedding provided. If you do feel the cold, you should consider bringing a sleeping bag.
- The walkways around many Egyptian ruins can be uneven, dusty and rocky, so be sure to bring comfortable walking shoes. At large sites such as Valley of the Kings, you can also expect to be walking in the elements for most of the day, so adequate sun protection is essential.
- Some hotels in Egypt may not have lifts. You may need to climb stairs with your luggage to reach your hotel room for the night.
- Temperatures in the Egypt can be extreme, ranging from very hot to very cold, depending on the season – it can even snow in some places! Layers will come in handy for sun protection as well as warmth.
- Overnight train journeys are a fast way to cross long distances, better for the environment and a great travel experience. You will share two-berth air-conditioned cabins, with all bedding provided and western style toilets on board.
The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline only and may change. On some occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our preferred accommodation. In these cases, we will use a similar standard of accommodation.
Throughout the trip, we request that our properties prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However, this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination or on some trips, have use of shared day rooms until all rooms are available.
OCCASIONAL ALTERNATIVE ACCOMMODATION
The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline. On rare occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our usual accommodation. A similar standard of accommodation will be used in these instances.
ACCOMMODATION STYLE
Some of the accommodation along the way is basic or simple, three and four-star accommodation in the Middle East (with the exception of Israel) is often not equal to same-star facilities in some western destinations. Rooms are clean and comfortable, however, you may note some small maintenance issues that have been overlooked, please assist us by bringing these to the attention of your group leader or local representative so that we can follow up with our hosts. Many restaurants and hotels do not serve alcohol for religious reasons or due to local laws. Breakfast is included in 95% or our hotels, pleaser refer to our daily itinerary for meal inclusions.
TWIN SHARE / MULTI SHARE BASIS
Accommodation on this trip is on a twin/multi-share basis.
CHECK-IN TIME
Throughout the trip, we request that our hotels prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However, this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination. Standard check-in time is 1400 hours.
PRE/POST TRIP ACCOMMODATION
If you've purchased pre-trip or post-trip accommodation (subject to availability), you may be required to change rooms from your trip accommodation for these extra nights.
SHOWERS
Showers at some hotels only have hot water at peak times (usually morning and evening). Outside of these times, you may need to speak to reception to obtain hot water.
HEATING AND AIR-CONDITIONING
As a desert region, this part of the world has extremes of weather. Winter months (approx December to March) can be very cold. All of our hotel accommodation contains suitable bedding, and simple light bedding is provided during camping activities such as an overnight felucca, desert camps or at the Red Sea Beach camp stay. Most of our travellers find the bedding provided here adequate, but for your own comfort and if you are particularly sensitive to the cold, consider bringing your own sleeping bag, thermals, scarf, gloves and a warm jacket. Some of our guesthouses/hotels don't supply heating. In many cases, this would be a major financial and environmental strain on our hotels and the local towns. Summer (approx June to August) can be very hot everywhere we travel, which means that it can be quite uncomfortable for those not used to the heat. Not all our hotels have air-conditioning, and in those that do, it's not always functioning.
ROOM ISSUES
If you have any issues with your room, please speak to the hotel and your group leader or local representative right away so that the problem can be addressed without delay.
Pharaohs Hotel
12 Lotfy Hassona, Dokki
Cairo
EGYPT
Phone: +20 227359595
Description
The Pharaohs is located in a modern area of Cairo, 100 meters from the banks of the Nile River, facing Gezira Island. It offers rooms with air conditioning and satellite TV.
Instructions
Intrepid can assist with pre-booking an arrival transfer from the airport - enquire with your agent. Please advise your flight arrival details at least 14 days prior to your departure.
For your confirmed arrival transfer, you’ll be met before you reach immigration by a representative holding an Intrepid sign. This representative will assist you in obtaining a visa on arrival if required, before guiding you through immigration, luggage collection and to a waiting vehicle. In case of flight cancellations, changes, if you experience severe delays at any point, or if you are not able to find the representative, please contact the transfer operator directly: +20 12 2100 5565. You can also reach our local operations team on +201096811067 for further assistance.
Alternatively, you can take a taxi from the airport to your hotel. The journey will take approximately 45mins, depending on the traffic, and cost approximately EGP300.
Dates and prices
Important notes
1.This trip starts in Cairo on Day 1 at 4 pm. This allows time after the welcome meeting to Khan al-Khalili bazaar with your Leader after the meeting.
2. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement excludes Day 5 (Felucca) where you will be in shared accommodation and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
3. This trip finishes upon arrival in Cairo on Day 8. Please do not book any flights until after 3.00 pm this evening in case there are delays
Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.
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